I don’t think there’s an author who hasn’t heard some variation of the “where do you get your ideas?” question. When I give talks about the writing process I’m invariably asked about how I’m able to come up with characters and situations that make for a good story. What they’re really asking is how do I hook or grab the reader’s interest. My answer is always the same. Something has to grab me first. That might be a newspaper headline, a song, an overheard conversation, or any number of events that get me thinking “what if?” I keep asking “what if” until I have raised a series of questions that will eventually form the story’s plot.
In murder mysteries, the basic plot is fairly simple: Someone is murdered and the hero or heroine (whether amateur or professional) must figure out who dunnit. What makes a mystery unique are the characters and situations involved and how the plot relates to the theme. Although many people think plot and theme are one and the same, they are actually quite different. Plot is what the characters do, but the theme is the lesson or moral underlying the plot. The theme of a book is a message that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society.
I never start out thinking about theme. What I do think about are some questions that, when combined with the “what ifs” underlying the plot, lead naturally to theme. So, before I ever put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard I ask myself three questions: (which are applicable to any type of writing):
1. What do I care about? Am I willing to spend a year or more thinking, researching, and writing about the subject? I believe great writing comes from passion, a desire to get those words down on paper that is so strong that nothing, even your own fears, will stop you from doing it.
2. What do I know or would like to know more about? I used to think that I had to be an expert in a subject before I could write about it. Not true. You just have to be curious enough to spend some time learning about it. Most people are willing to share what they know with you if you politely ask. Over the years I’ve consulted with a wide variety of experts on myriad subjects—from fingerprint analysis and gunshot residue to riding out a storm while sailing solo. I draw upon my own experiences a lot in my writing, but since I’ve never really murdered anyone or known anyone who has (and hopefully never will!), I have to rely on law enforcement specialists for their technical advice and guidance.
3. What do I like to read? When I first started writing, I attended a lot of creative writing classes. I’ll never forget the woman who raised her eyebrows when I told her I was writing a mystery. I thought she was just one of those people who think genre writing is somehow inferior to “true literature.” But no, she couldn’t see the rationale behind writing what you like to read. She huffily informed me that romance novels represented 48% of the market. The implication was clear – I was missing out on a lucrative segment of the reading public. I can’t write what I don’t like to read. That leaves out romances, science fiction (except for time travel novels), urban fantasy, or anything advertised as chick lit. But everything else is wide open for future writing endeavors. Stay tuned.
In murder mysteries, the basic plot is fairly simple: Someone is murdered and the hero or heroine (whether amateur or professional) must figure out who dunnit. What makes a mystery unique are the characters and situations involved and how the plot relates to the theme. Although many people think plot and theme are one and the same, they are actually quite different. Plot is what the characters do, but the theme is the lesson or moral underlying the plot. The theme of a book is a message that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society.
I never start out thinking about theme. What I do think about are some questions that, when combined with the “what ifs” underlying the plot, lead naturally to theme. So, before I ever put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard I ask myself three questions: (which are applicable to any type of writing):
1. What do I care about? Am I willing to spend a year or more thinking, researching, and writing about the subject? I believe great writing comes from passion, a desire to get those words down on paper that is so strong that nothing, even your own fears, will stop you from doing it.
2. What do I know or would like to know more about? I used to think that I had to be an expert in a subject before I could write about it. Not true. You just have to be curious enough to spend some time learning about it. Most people are willing to share what they know with you if you politely ask. Over the years I’ve consulted with a wide variety of experts on myriad subjects—from fingerprint analysis and gunshot residue to riding out a storm while sailing solo. I draw upon my own experiences a lot in my writing, but since I’ve never really murdered anyone or known anyone who has (and hopefully never will!), I have to rely on law enforcement specialists for their technical advice and guidance.
3. What do I like to read? When I first started writing, I attended a lot of creative writing classes. I’ll never forget the woman who raised her eyebrows when I told her I was writing a mystery. I thought she was just one of those people who think genre writing is somehow inferior to “true literature.” But no, she couldn’t see the rationale behind writing what you like to read. She huffily informed me that romance novels represented 48% of the market. The implication was clear – I was missing out on a lucrative segment of the reading public. I can’t write what I don’t like to read. That leaves out romances, science fiction (except for time travel novels), urban fantasy, or anything advertised as chick lit. But everything else is wide open for future writing endeavors. Stay tuned.
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